Can-capping machine.



PATENTED APR. 19, 1904. J. T. WILMORB. I CAN OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1902.

2 SHEETS-11531 1.

N0 MODEL.

wore-um PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

J. T. WILMOREQ CAN GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1902.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 2..

N0 MODEL.

amen/ 20 wimeooao gzfid5%% UNriED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CAN-CAPPING MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,034, dated April 19, 1904..

Application filed December 8, 1902. Serial No. 134,407. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN T. VILMORE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Oolorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Capping Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for placing the tops or caps on cans in canning factories. This device is located between the can-filling apparatus and the apparatus for soldering the caps on the cans. A traveling chain or conveyer resting on a suitable track carries the filled cans to the capping apparatus, which consists of a series of hinged arms carried by a rotary gear, the outer extremity of each arm carrying a magnet. These arms rest upon and are controlled by a stationary cam. Mounted also upon the gear is a series of receptacles for holding can-caps, an d the arrangement of this mechanism is such that the gear is operated by the chain upon which the cans are mounted, and every time the gear rotates a can-cap is lifted out of a receptacle by each magnet-arm and dropped upon a can. The upward and downward movement of the arms is controlled by the cam.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of the machine, partly in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a top View partly in horizontal section. No attempt has been made to show the bracket 31 in this view, as it is located beneath other parts, and only a small portion of it would appear in any event. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View showing a cap-receptacle on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line I 4 4, Fig. 3, viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the magnet-arms, showing a can-cap held by the magnet and the means for controlling the spring which detaches the cap from the magnet. Fig. 6 is a View taken at right angles to Fig. 5, showing a can in place and partly broken away. Fig. 7 isato'p view of the track and can-carrying chain, the cans being indicated by dotted lines.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate an upright post or stationary shaft having a base 5 resting on a suitable support. This shaft is provided with braces 6 and a shoulder 7 Mounted to rotate on the shaft 5 is a gear 8, whose central portion 8 projects upwardly and is provided'with an inclined or conical wall 8, to which is attached a series of V-shaped receptacles 9,which are slightly curved and occupy an inclined position. vided with a base or flange 9, which is slotted to receive a stud-bolt 10, threaded in the wall 8. By loosening this bolt the receptacle may be moved up and down at pleasure and again fastened in place. The receptacles 9 hold the can-caps 12, and they are arranged at regular intervals in a circular zone around the outwardly-flared or conical wall 8. To facilitate clearness of illustration of the other parts, only two of the cap-receptacles are shown in Fig. 1. A complete set of these receptacles is shown in Fig. 2.

Made fast to the shaft 5 above the gear 8 is a cam 13, whose upper edge is spiral-shaped and forms the support for arms 14, which are hinged at 15 to a hub 16, rotatable on the upper extremity of the Shaft 5 above the cam. This hub rests on a collar 17, made fast to the shaft 5, and is provided with horizontal spokes 16, whose outer extremities are connected by a ring 16. To this ring 16 are attached the upper extremities of guide-arms 18, whose lower extremities are made fast to the inner wall of the gear 8. There is a pair of these arms 18 for each hinged arm 14, and the individual arms of each pair are separated to form a guideway for the arm 14 during its upward and downward movement when actuated by the cam 13.

To the outer extremity of each arm 14 is Each receptacle is proattached a horseshoe-magnet 19, which when the machine is in operation descends into a receptacle 9 and engages the uppermost cap 12, which is raised by the arm as the latter rides up the spiral edge of the cam 13 until the cap reaches a position directly above a can 20, carried by the chain composed of links 21, which rest on a track 22. Each link is provided with a pair of projections 21, which engage the can 20 from the rear and carry it along with the chain in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. To each arm 1 1 is attached a leaf-spring 23, as shown at 24. The outer extremity of this spring passes between the arms of the magnet 19 and normally occupies the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5. Just before the arm 14 reaches a position directly above the can 20 the spring 23 engages the curved or inclined upper edge 25 of a plate 25, secured to a stationary part 26, mounted on the track 22. This plate 25 raises *the spring to the dotted-line position and suddenly releases it as the spring leaves the plate. The spring then moves downwardly with considerable force, and its momentum carries it below its normal position far enough to strike thecap 27 and release it from the magnet, causing it to drop to position on top of the can. Each can as it moves along strikes a tooth of a star-wheel 28, made fast to the top of a shaft '29 and journaled in a part 30, mounted on the track 22. To the lower extremity of the shaft 29 is made fast a gear 31, which meshes with the gear 8 and imparts the necessary movement to the latter to operate the magnet-arms, as aforesaid. The carrying-chain composed of the links 21 is operated by any suitable power, and this chain actuates my improved device through the instrumentality of the cans riding thereon, as just explained. As shown in the drawings, each magnet-arm is provided with a stirrup-shaped bracket 31, through which the springs 23 pass. below the spring and rests upon the stationary part 26 during the action of the spring in disengaging the can-cap 27 This bracket 31, resting on the plate 26, affords a stable support for the arm during the said operation without interfering in any way with the action of the spring, the latter being first placed under tension by the plate 25 and then suddenly released. Were it not forthe bracket 31 the only support the arm 14 would have would beat its inner extremity. Hence there might be a tendency of the arm to vibrate to some extent. This liability of course would depend upon the length of the arm.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved device will be readily understood. Assuming that the carrying chain or conveyer is in motion, the filled cans 20 are carried thereon and operate the starwheel 28, which in turn actuates the gears 31 and 8, whereby the magnet-arms riding on The bracket 31 is closed the spiral edge of the cam drop into their corresponding receptacles carried by the gear 8, lift the caps therefrom, and are successively brought into position to drop the caps on the traveling cans through the instrumentality of the spring 23, which engages the plate 25 and detaches the caps from the magnets, as heretofore explained. After the caps have been dropped to position on the cans the latter are carried by the chain or conveyer to the soldering-machine, (not shown,) where the caps are secured in place.

Attention is called to the fact that the receptacles 9 for the caps should be so located that the magnet 19 of each arm should engage the cap in the center. Hence the receptacles 9 should be adjusted on the inclined wall 8 to bring about this result. If the receptacle is adjusted for a certain sized cupthat is to say, so that the magnet wlien the arm descends shall strike the center of that capif smaller caps are employed it is evident that the receptacle must be raised in order that the magnet of the arm may engage the central portion of the smaller caps. This is the reason for the adjustability of the cap-receptacles heretofore described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In acapping-machine, the combination of a rotary device,cap-receptacles mounted thereon, hinged arms also mounted on the rotary device in the plane of the receptacles and provided with magnets, there being a hinged magnet-arm for each cap-receptacle, means for actuating the rotary device, and means for controlling the arms whereby their magnets are caused to enter the receptacles and lift the caps therefrom preparatory to dropping them upon the cans.

2. In a can-capping machine, the combination with a carrier upon which the cans are mounted, of a rotary device actuated from the carrier, and carrying the can-caps, arms movably mounted on the rotary device and pro' vided with magnets, and means for controlling the arms during the movement of the rotary device, whereby they are made to pick up the can-caps and lift them to position to drop upon the cans.

3. In a can-capping apparatus, the combination with a can carrier or conveyer, of a rotary device actuated from the conveyer and arranged to carry a supply of caps, magnetarms movably mounted, means for controlling the arms during their rotation with the capcarrying device whereby the said arms are caused to pick up the caps and lift them to position above the cans, and means for automatically detaching the caps from thesaid arms.

4:. The combination with a can carrier or conveyer, of a can-capcarrying wheel suitably journaled and actuated from the conveyer, can-cap receptacles mounted on the wheel, a number of magnet-arms, a device actuated from the wheel and moving in unison therewith, with which device the magnet-arms are movably connected, and means for controlling said arms whereby they are made to pick up can-caps and lift the caps to position above the cans on the carrier.

5. The combination of a wheel suitably journaled, can-cap-carrying receptacles mounted on said wheel, a hub whose axis is in line with the axis of the wheel, a connection between the hub and the wheel whereby the two parts rotate in unison, magnet-arms hinged or pivotcd on the hub and arranged to move vertically in the planes of the cap-receptacles, the arms corresponding in number with the capreceptacles and a cam upon which the magnetarms rest and whereby their vertical movement is controlled as they rotate with the wheel and hub, and means for imparting the rotary movement to the last-named parts.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a vertical stationary shaft, a wheel journaled thereon and provided with can-cap receptacles, a hub journaled on the said shaft above the wheel and connected to rotate therewith, magnet'arms hinged on the hub and arranged to move in radial planes cutting the ca 'i-receptacles, and a stationary cam interposed between the wheel and hub and upon which the arms rest whereby their vertical movement is controlled during rotation.

7. In a can-capping machine, the combination with a vertical stationary shaft, of a wheel journaled thereon, can-cap receptacles mounted on the wheel, a hub also journaled on the shaft above the first-named wheel, guide-arms connecting the wheel and hub, said arms being arranged in pairs, arms hinged on the second hub and passing between the pairs of guidearms'in the planes of the cap-receptacles, magnets applied to the extremities of the hinged arms and adapted to enter the cap-receptacles, and means interposed between the wheel and hub for controlling the vertical movement of the magnet-arms.

8. The combination with a stationary shaft, of a wheel journaled thereon, can-cap receptacles mounted on the wheel in a circular series, a hub also journaled on the shaft above the wheel, a series of radial arms hinged to the hub to permit vertical movement in the planes of the cap-receptacles, magnets applied to the outer extremities of the arms, and means for controlling the vertical movement of the arms whereby they are caused to enter the cap-receptacles and lift the caps as the wheel and hub rotate, and a suitable connection between the wheel and hub whereby they are caused to rotate in unison.

9. The combination of a wheel suitably journaled, can-cap receptacles mounted on the wheel and arranged ina circular series around the axis of the Wheel, a hub suitably journaled and having its axis in line with the axis of the wheel, a connection between the hub and the wheel whereby the two parts rotate in unison, arms hinged to the hub and arranged to move vertically in radial planes passing through the cap-receptacles, a cam mounted between the wheel and the hub for controlling the vertical movement of the radial arms, magnets mounted on the arms, a spring also mounted on each arm in suitable proximity to the magnets, and means for placing each spring under tension and suddenly releasing it whereby itsrecoil action detaches a can-cap from the magnet at predetermined intervals.

10. The combination with a stationary shaft, of a gear mounted thereon, can-cap receptacles arranged in a circular series and mounted on the gear, a hub journaled on the shaft above the gear, guide-arms connecting the hub and gear, arms hinged to the hub and arranged to move in radial planes passing through the cap-receptacles, magnets attached to the outer extremities of the hinged arms, the said lastnamed arms passing between the guide-arms connecting the gear and hub, a cam mounted on the shaft between the gear and the hub and upon which the radial arms rest, whereby the vertical movement is imparted to said arms during rotation, a spring mounted on each arm for detaching a cap from the magnet, a bracket engaged by each spring during the rotation of its arm, whereby the spring is placed under tension and suddenly released to detach the cap from the magnet, a carrier for the cans whereby they are brought into position to receive the caps, a star-wheel actuated by the cans, a shaft on which the star-wheel is made fast, and a gear also fast on the lastnamed shaft and meshingwith the first-named gear whereby the cans moving with the carrier, rotate the last-named shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. WILMORE. 

